I believe you said you will be with Services. They will probably pay for your apartment in accordance with your "Rank". You really won't have any problem choosing from the great variety available when you ride with the realtors. The driving is like rush hour in Denver, sometimes, only some drivers are less skilled and lack what you might consider "Politeness". A young man with your experience will adapt readily. Parking is poor, damage is often, small cars are better. The strange thing is all power off base is 220v. Most landlords furnish step-down transformers for 110 appliances of low wattage. Ask the govt if they furnish you a washer & dryer & refrigerator. If not, don't eat up your weight allowance with old heavy 110v models. I would buy 'em here, and a 220v microwave & iron,( if you or your housekeeper iron clothes...) Most apts in Seoul do not have 110v wiring. I think Songtan (outside Osan AB) is the same. Don't spend much time worrying about anything-listen to Dale & Brian!

Well I am due to arrive in Osan, Korea in about 35 days and am excited and nervous. Anybody have any advice? What does a person usually do when they arrive in Osan? What are the sights and how easy is it to get to Seoul? Any advice? Are you allowed to ship products with HHG pickup like lotions, shampoo, deodorant and what not? This is my first PCS so.... how long before the HHG come in? Any other things I should know will someone please let me know.

If you drink, set a limit, go with friends, never alone. Good chance to take some college on base, see the sights with MWR trips, get in shape by all the walking you will do and at the base gym, take a martial art, take pictures, make new friends and remember, those bars outside the gate are there for one reason and one reason only, to relieve you from the burden of carrying your money around. Don't believe anything you hear from any of the people who work in the bars and clubs, but play darts and have fun with your friends from the base. Do your time, take good memories and then leave it all behind when you PCS out of Korea. Oh yeah, do not ever take any Korean cabs anywhere unless you absolutley have no other choice. Peace and enjoy.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

Planning on doing the college thing. Have a degree already but need one in Business if I want to be a flight chief. Will definitely need to go to the gym as well, release stress and lose some weight. So never alone, is it bad or are there dangers for Americans or like in any foreign country better to be safe than sorry. I like to play darts, my friend Dale has been showing me how. Still learning though. Why are the Korean taxis not safe, has something happened?

Know any good places to live? Thanks again for your thoughts and suggestions, will take them to heart and use your advice. Any other suggestions? I am bringing my car so I guess that is good, so no taxis for me. Is it better to live close to the base or further away from the main street? Thanks again.

Turk, why did you say to avoid Korean taxis??? I took DOZENS of tais in my year there, but I learned how to give them directions and I almost always carried a map with me so I knew where I was going, and I could show them if I needed to. Sometimes it is just convenient to take a taxi and not wait on a bus... what is the big fear there?

yeah I've taken many taxi's also. just trying to stress the idea that there have been so many incidents between Korean taxi drivers and Americans, mostly G.I. 's. Most incidents were drunk G.I.'s ,young GI's, abusing the taxi driver but, there have also been incidents where some unscrupulous Korean taxi drivers have targeted Americans, civilian and GI, in order to try and make some money from damages. It happened to me last time I was there as a civilian. All taxi drivers are not just good cabbies earning a living and Americans and other foreigners are easy targets for the un aware. The Korean legal system can be a tricky place to manuver, trust me. Trust in the buddy system and stay alert when out in the country is the best advice I know to give. Good Luck.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

For Jessediaz;
You asked about where to get an apt.
Jesse, it doesn't make much difference- live where you find a nice apartment. Plenty of time and plenty of choices.
Personally, from my years of experience, spend more time researching who lives directly above you, and how much noise they make in the evening-walking, running, flushing, drinking,etc. Do they have a kid learning piano or trumpet? Things like that. If you like walking up steps, or have an elevator,consider the top floor. Look for access to the roof, where you can barbecue. Check out at least 5 or more apartments. Take your time. Across the street from a noisy bar is bad. Be alert to all these things. I forget if you said you were bringing a car. If so, insist on indoor reserved parking. If not, live within walking distance of the gate and the Songtan subway station. You won't need any taxis that way. The bus is free on Base. Taxis are not as awful as Turk described. He had some bad experiences! If you get a base taxi when you get groceries at the Commissary, you will have no problem taking it to your apartment, IF you get instructions on how to get to your apartment, and the NAME of your apt. written in Korean and keep it in your wallet. Don't shop the Commissary on weekends. Crowded.
There was schoolteacher who arrived in Inchon- he went to his school's office,in a taxi, then couldn't get back to his hotel as he didn't know which hotel it was! After paying a taxi mucho dinero driving around looking for a landmark, he remembered a pizza delivery being near his hotel, and drove around to all the pizza parlors in Inchon until he found the right one! Keep everything written in Korean until you learn the way home! Later, dude.

Thank you for all of the good advice from each of you. I look forward to arriving there next week Thursday. I am going to have a good time and put on great programs for the men and women defending our great country and their families and civilian work force. I cannot wait.